BY AINSLEY WALTERS, Freelance Writer
Jamaica Combined Martial Arts teenage star Nicholas Dussard (left) has his Cuban opponent on the run during their showdown in Havana recently. - CONTRIBUTED
JUNIOR TAE KWON Do martial arts star, Nicholas Dussard, whose bronze gave Jamaica its first ever junior black belt medal at the 2004 World Cup in Orlando, Florida, is aiming at the gold medal at the Junior World Championship in Honduras next month.
Dussard will be competing among the world's best junior Tae Kwon Do black belts and is fancied to land Jamaica's first gold medal in World Championship Tae Kwon Do.
The International Tae Kwon Do Junior World Championship is the largest such event in the world and the winner would be considered the World Junior Champion.
Apart from personal glory, it would be a signal from Dussard to the country's Olympic selectors.
Among his exploits are winning Jamaica's first ever Pan Am junior gold medal in Paraguay in 2003. In addition, he has won points for the Jamaica Combined Martial Arts Team in five consecutive matches overseas.
The Jamaica Tae Kwon Do Association coaching staff is expecting much of the Wolmer's Boys honour student.
Peter Lue, who has been Dussard's instructor from he was a white belt, has described him as the most exceptional junior talent he has ever worked with and would be disappointed if he should achieve anything else but gold.
Dussard is Jamaica's first ever entrant in the World Championship and this is his final year of eligibility.
He will be accompanied on tour by instructor Peter Lue and his mother, who will be travelling with him for the first time.
Jason McKay, who has travelled with Dussard as captain of the Combined Team since spotting his talent four years ago, will travel as coach.
McKay said although the standard at the Championships are the highest in the world and talent out of South America and Asia represent a formidable challenge, he believes Dussard, "by virtue of his talent, training attitude and character", will overcome the obstacles and maintain his unbeaten record.
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